Run this at 1200/1600 1.2v when playing bf3 for hrs, I run fan at 100% its not that loud at all and hasnt gone above 55c

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Why out of Curiosity??? I have owned two of each now and all in all there is very little difference in performance and everything else. Don't get me wrong there are some thing I like about the GTX 680 better and there are some things I like about the HD7970 better... but they are both very very good cards.

Why out of Curiosity??? I have owned two of each now and all in all there is very little difference in performance and everything else. Don't get me wrong there are some thing I like about the GTX 680 better and there are some things I like about the HD7970 better... but they are both very very good cards.

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What did you do to your 7970s, did you sell them? as you said both cards are awesome, and trade punches at high resolutions; Just curious, how do the 680s compare to your previous setup?

ewww you use the vespula? i bought one and its so scratchy the noise drives me mad

edit: i actually just tried it with my g700 and its not bad. it seems the vespula just really really hates the aftermarket mouse skates/feet on my G500

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It's silent with the teflon-y feet of my G700, plus I always have the sensitivity really high so I don't move the mouse a whole lot either. To move my mouse from one corner of the screen to the opposite corner slowy takes about 3/8 of an inch.

What did you do to your 7970s, did you sell them? as you said both cards are awesome, and trade punches at high resolutions; Just curious, how do the 680s compare to your previous setup?

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Well I originally was going to sell the HD7970's and buy the new GTX 680's off of New Egg. The bad news is New Egg sold the cards to me and then ran out of stock so they said " We can put you on a waiting list"
I told them heck no. But I found someone (Locally) who wanted to do a trade.... my two HD7970's W/Water blocks for his GTX 680's. I did it and have my new water blocks (For the GTX 680's) on the way. He was newer to water cooling (So blocks were already installed for him) and he was more into Eyefinity so it was a great deal for both sides.

In comparison.... looking back there are some things I really like about the GTX 680's compared to the HD7970's but there are somethings they lack too.

On average the GTX 680's yes are faster then the HD7970's but in real life tests not by much!
Also when you factor in Nvidia's new offset clocks it's not always a for sure thing to keep the clocks you are shooting for.
Example* You could set your offset to be 1250Mhz but because of built in thermal throttling the cards will down clock to an approved Nvidia Temp. Sure there is a work around but it is still not a for sure thing.
When you set the HD 7970's to 1300Mhz that is where it stays.

Nvidia's clocks are a more for sure thing if someone was using Water cooling or NO2 but for someone using Air anything that raises the cards temps above Nvidia's approved 70c the cards will throttle down just a little. You can raise the GTX 680's Power limit to by pass this a little but again I will stress these cards will down clock if they go past Nvidia's approved temps.

Now there are some nice things about the Offset feature. *Example* your GPU's are not constantly running at such high clocks burning them out quicker. It also saves power. Also I have noticed that with the Offest feature the top stock speed for these cards is not 1056 it can actually be higher but it ranges from card to card. As long as the card is under the approved temp and the card needs the power.... the GTX 680 will continue to clock up. Just like it mentions in this thread at another site.... https://www.evga.com/forums/tm.aspx?m=1516486&mpage=1&print=true The top speed for my cards for example is 1124Mhz Stock (If it needs the performance and stays under Nvidia's temps)

Maybe I should write a review as coming from someone who has owned both cards. But right now.... I would say I really do like them both equally! And anyone with a HD7970 thinking of upgrading to a GTX 680..... If you really want to go a head otherwise in terms of performance you won't get any real gain even in bench marking.

Well I originally was going to sell the HD7970's and buy the new GTX 680's off of New Egg. The bad news is New Egg sold the cards to me and then ran out of stock so they said " We can put you on a waiting list"
I told them heck no. But I found someone (Locally) who wanted to do a trade.... my two HD7970's W/Water blocks for his GTX 680's. I did it and have my new water blocks (For the GTX 680's) on the way. He was newer to water cooling (So blocks were already installed for him) and he was more into Eyefinity so it was a great deal for both sides.

In comparison.... looking back there are some things I really like about the GTX 680's compared to the HD7970's but there are somethings they lack too.

On average the GTX 680's yes are faster then the HD7970's but in real life tests not by much!
Also when you factor in Nvidia's new offset clocks it's not always a for sure thing to keep the clocks you are shooting for.
Example* You could set your offset to be 1250Mhz but because of built in thermal throttling the cards will down clock to an approved Nvidia Temp. Sure there is a work around but it is still not a for sure thing.
When you set the HD 7970's to 1300Mhz that is where it stays.

Nvidia's clocks are a more for sure thing if someone was using Water cooling or NO2 but for someone using Air anything that raises the cards temps above Nvidia's approved 70c the cards will throttle down just a little. You can raise the GTX 680's Power limit to by pass this a little but again I will stress these cards will down clock if they go past Nvidia's approved temps.

Now there are some nice things about the Offset feature. *Example* your GPU's are not constantly running at such high clocks burning them out quicker. It also saves power. Also I have noticed that with the Offest feature the top stock speed for these cards is not 1056 it can actually be higher but it ranges from card to card. As long as the card is under the approved temp and the card needs the power.... the GTX 680 will continue to clock up. Just like it mentions in this thread at another site.... https://www.evga.com/forums/tm.aspx?m=1516486&mpage=1&print=true The top speed for my cards for example is 1124Mhz Stock (If it needs the performance and stays under Nvidia's temps)

Maybe I should write a review as coming from someone who has owned both cards. But right now.... I would say I really do like them both equally! And anyone with a HD7970 thinking of upgrading to a GTX 680..... If you really want to go a head otherwise in terms of performance you won't get any real gain even in bench marking.

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I'm glad to hear you're happy with your 680s, I know you used to have 580s before also, so a mini review with your perspective would be really helpful for a lot of people out there.

To me both the 680 and 7970 are top performers, must have been nice for you to have taste of both

Why out of Curiosity??? I have owned two of each now and all in all there is very little difference in performance and everything else. Don't get me wrong there are some thing I like about the GTX 680 better and there are some things I like about the HD7970 better... but they are both very very good cards.

I'm glad to hear you're happy with your 680s, I know you used to have 580s before also, so a mini review with your perspective would be really helpful for a lot of people out there.

To me both the 680 and 7970 are top performers, must have been nice for you to have taste of both

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Yeah... playing with both is great.... I got to enjoy the GTX 680 and HD 7970 both before they were released as well..... because of where I work. I can tell you that I have been playing with these cards for longer then most people.

I will give you one extra bonus BTW..... Be prepared from the Nvidia camp they have something else on the way! I haven't played with it yet.... but according to higher ups from EVGA there will be something coming out in the August/September area.
I also have some info from the red front but I'll keep that for myself.

I think your right I will write a small overview of the card/cards......I think it might give people some insight into which to buy.

The 680 is just a beast of a card, there was no need to OC it

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Your right if you just wanna play games.... but what would be a good reason to overclock one??? Well.... because the HD7970 would demolish it otherwise!

It's the "Cohesion XP 11.2 Gaming Chair Ottoman with Wireless Audio"; I told the wife that it folds into an ottoman when not in use so it would look nice in our room, after I got it and showed it to her she said "that's the ugliest ottoman I've ever seen in my life", but it was too late by then

I returned it due to the fact tha i couldnt play games in 3d or watch movies in 3d because of my monitor being more geared to AMD

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Sorry to hear that for me it was the other way around, I wanted the 7970 since the day it came out but it didn't support my surround monitors in 3D, it's very sad that monitor manufacturers haven't adopted a standard for 3D displays forcing users to either pick AMD or Nvidia, makes me very upset as these monitors aren't cheap either, and once you invest in them you're effectively locked with one video card manufacturer

I will give you one extra bonus BTW..... Be prepared from the Nvidia camp they have something else on the way! I haven't played with it yet.... but according to higher ups from EVGA there will be something coming out in the August/September area.
I also have some info from the red front but I'll keep that for myself.!

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I kinda suspect what card you're referring to, GK100 should be released by then, and the real fun will begin, thanks for the sneak peek

.....I will give you one extra bonus BTW..... Be prepared from the Nvidia camp they have something else on the way! I haven't played with it yet.... but according to higher ups from EVGA there will be something coming out in the August/September area.
.....

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I know you can't say, but I presume that is big kepler (GK110). I had thought it was going to come later like about November time area.

Do you think the 7970s would be better with 3 screens or the GTX 680s? I know you don't have the screens, just wondering.

I know you can't say, but I presume that is big kepler (GK110). I had thought it was going to come later like about November time area.

Do you think the 7970s would be better with 3 screens or the GTX 680s? I know you don't have the screens, just wondering.

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I would say the HD7970's would do better with 3 screens.... for a few of reasons.... Eyefinity is less picky.
When I have tried using Nvidia's Surround setup.... it was very buggy (Not on everything but on more then Eyefinity was)
The HD7970 will also give you 3gb of memory instead of 2Gigs. 2 Gigs isn't bad but for higher resolutions the HD7970 3Gigs will do you much better. (In real life tests regardless of what some reviews are showing)
The HD7970's also let you run more monitors per card. (Up to 6 monitors per card) so if you wanna go with more monitors in the future it leaves room for that.

Your next question is....about "big kepler (GK110)". Your right I won't say much more.... But it's funny that you called it "big Kepler" because that is what it was being refereed to during the whole conversation. As of right now the plan is August/September release date because of the GTX 600's 18 month projected life span. But naming and release can change of course on a whim. I would take this release date to be exactly what it is.... a projection by a large company that happens to be a distributor not the manufacturer it's self. But I will guarantee one more thing.... we weren't talking about the GTX 690 that is for sure.... that will be here much much sooner then that.